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Head-to-head · Note-Taking Apps

Goodnotes vs Joplin

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Goodnotes #4 in Note-Taking Apps 8.8/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Goodnotes
Joplin #6 in Note-Taking Apps 8.6/10 Free plan · 14-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Joplin

Goodnotes leads on 1 check, Joplin on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGoodnotes · 8.8/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialboth

Goodnotes scores higher on our rubric for note-taking apps: 8.8 against 8.6 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #6.

Goodnotes leads on storage limit: 5 GB versus 2 GB.

Goodnotes is the better fit for handwritten notebooks and PDF annotation. Joplin is the better fit for open-source, privacy-conscious note takers.

  • Goodnotes fits best

    Handwritten notebooks and PDF annotation

  • Joplin fits best

    Open-source, privacy-conscious note takers

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Goodnotes 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Joplin 8.6/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.6
Ranking #4 in Note-Taking Apps #6 in Note-Taking Apps
Best for Handwritten notebooks and PDF annotation Open-source, privacy-conscious note takers
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — €2.40/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 7 days 14 days
Free trial length 7 days 14 days
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile Cloud, Self-hosted, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome extension
Support Email, Community, Docs Community, Docs
Compliance SOC 2, ISO 27001, GDPR, SSO/SAML GDPR, 2FA
Integrations 6 integrations 7 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Goodnotes 3/3 · Joplin 3/3
Offline access ✓ ✓
Note sharing ✓ ✓
Real-time collaboration ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported platforms web, windows, macos, ios, android web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome extension, API
Storage limit 5 GB (best) 2 GB
Integrations Google Calendar, Google Drive, ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Outlook, Apple Calendar Joplin Cloud, Nextcloud, S3, WebDAV, Dropbox, OneDrive, Local filesystem
Our review
Pros
  • Handwriting, typed notes, whiteboards, PDFs, and audio in one app
  • Searchable handwriting plus AI transcription, summaries, and generation
  • Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android support
  • Open-source, Markdown-based notes with offline-first local access
  • End-to-end encrypted synchronisation and multiple storage options
  • Broad platform coverage with clipping, publishing and plugins
Cons
  • Free plan limits users to three notebooks and 100 MB storage
  • Cross-platform Goodnotes Cloud sync starts with the Pro plan
  • Advanced AI requires Pro or the separate AI Pass add-on
  • Collaboration and publishing features depend on Joplin Cloud
  • Basic limits notes and attachments to 10 MB
  • Advanced storage tiers cost more than the entry plan
Our verdict

Goodnotes is a digital note-taking application for students, professionals, and teams who want handwritten notebooks alongside typed documents, whiteboards, PDFs, and audio. It supports digital ink, PDF import and annotation, signing,…

Read the review →

Joplin is an open-source note-taking and to-do application for individuals and teams who want Markdown editing, local access and control over synchronisation. It organises content with notebooks and tags, supports full-text search, and…

Read the review →
  1. GoodnotesNote-Taking Apps 8.8Free plan · 7-day trial
  2. JoplinNote-Taking Apps 8.6Free plan · 14-day trial

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Goodnotes — where it wins

    • Handwriting, typed notes, whiteboards, PDFs, and audio in one app
    • Searchable handwriting plus AI transcription, summaries, and generation
    • Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android support

    Where it doesn't

    • Free plan limits users to three notebooks and 100 MB storage
    • Cross-platform Goodnotes Cloud sync starts with the Pro plan
    • Advanced AI requires Pro or the separate AI Pass add-on

  • Joplin — where it wins

    • Open-source, Markdown-based notes with offline-first local access
    • End-to-end encrypted synchronisation and multiple storage options
    • Broad platform coverage with clipping, publishing and plugins

    Where it doesn't

    • Collaboration and publishing features depend on Joplin Cloud
    • Basic limits notes and attachments to 10 MB
    • Advanced storage tiers cost more than the entry plan
  • Goodnotes8.8/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

    A broad note-taking app for handwriting, PDFs, collaboration, and AI across five platforms.

    Visit GoodnotesFull verdict →
  • Joplin8.6/10 · Free plan · 14-day trial

    A privacy-focused Markdown notebook that works across desktop, mobile and web.

    Visit JoplinFull verdict →

More comparisons

All Note-Taking apps comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update